Finance Operations

Job summary

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office pursues our national interests and projects the UK’s role in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners. We employ more than 17,000 staff in 179 countries and territories, across our diplomatic and development offices worldwide, which consists of 282 officially designated Posts. Our UK-based staff work in King Charles Street, London, Abercrombie House in East Kilbride and Hanslope Parkin Milton Keynes.

We are looking to recruit talented and enthusiastic individuals to join the FCDO in our Finance Operations department at Administrative Officer (AO) level. You will have good organisational skills, take responsibility for your own work and be committed to high standards of customer service. You will have strong literacy and numeracy skills and have experience and confidence in the use of Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Teams and Word) and Windows 11.

The positions are Home Civil Service roles based at Milton Keynes or East Kilbride, providing administrative support and corporate services to the FCDO in the UK and overseas. We are not recruiting for a specific departmental vacancy, and you will be placed into a role based on business need.

Job description

Financial Operations Administrative Officers provide professional office administration and support on transactions processing, projects, budgets, customer service functions and internal and external communications. All roles are customer oriented. These tasks are essential to the ability of the FCDO to deliver its objectives and form the core of all AO job specifications.

We will configure the roles to meet specific business needs, but they will typically include:

• Transactions and Receipts Processing: Checking invoices and identifying mismatches to ensure accuracy and efficiency; using different systems e.g. internet banking and Oracle to process payments promptly in compliance with procedures; reconciling and investigating payments; calculation and payment of member pension benefits; dealing with FCDO credit card issues and issuing invoices for services provided by the organisation.
• Customer Services: Providing guidance to customers, dealing with them professionally and resolving queries within agreed timeframes.
• Knowledge and information Management: Maintaining excel spreadsheets, databases, records and desk notes.
• Professional Office Administration/Support: Creating and maintaining electronic filing systems; databases and distribution lists; dealing with telephone and email enquiries; mail handling; organising meetings/events and taking notes in meetings; maintaining stationery supplies; corporate roles such as first aider, for which training will be provided.
• Project Management Support: Monitoring progress against objectives; ensuring project remains on schedule; anticipating and managing risks; maintaining accurate records.
• Budget Management: Budget monitoring, requisitioning and raising purchase orders; manipulation of data using spreadsheets; assisting with budget forecasting; understanding commercial and procurement policies.

Person specification

You must be a British Citizen at the time of application and, if invited to interview, you will need to bring proof of identity (British Passport/Driving Licence etc.) with you.

This role requires you to attainDeveloped Vetting (DV) security clearance.

For more information about this process, click here. Attaining DV will require you to have been resident in the UK for five of the last ten years. At least one year of this must have been a consecutive twelve-month period. Serving overseas with HM Forces, in some other official capacity as a representative of His Majesty’s Government or having lived overseas as a result of your parents’ or partner’s Government employment counts as UK residency for the purposes of security clearances.

It is essential in your application that you provide evidence and proven examples in each of the following Minimum Criteria, the Behaviours and the Technical question as far as you are able to do so. These responses will be further developed and discussed with those candidates invited for interview.

Essential Criteria

• Strong literacy, numeracy and IT skills.
• Competent using IT packages including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Teams), Windows 11 and experience of mailbox management.
• Strong interpersonal, team-working and communication skills (oral and written).
• Good organisational, analytical and planning skills with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment to tight deadlines.
• Ability to make effective decisions, identify problems and propose solutions to maintain a quality service.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,500, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office contributes £8,546 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• A Civil Service Pension.
• 25 days Annual Leave per annum.
• 9 days Public and Privilege holidays per annum.
• Learning and Development tailored to your role.

See the attached Candidate Pack

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability and Experience.

Application Stage

After submission of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test and Civil Service Numerical Test.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on Monday 12th October 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

You will be required to complete a short online application form. You will then be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test and a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass these tests, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application which will comprise of the following:

A CV detailing your employment history. CVs will be assessed against the Essential Criteria outlined in the Person Specification section above.

A Personal Statement of 500 words explaining how you consider your skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with specific reference to the Essential Criteria. These responses will be explored further during the interview process for shortlisted candidates.

The Behaviours you will be assessed on at the application stage are as follows:

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Please ensure that you allow sufficient time to complete the whole application process before the closing deadline.

IMPORTANT: If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme and require Reasonable Adjustments in order to complete your application/online tests, please ensure Government Recruitment Service (GRS) fcdorecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk are aware of this on the date of application and certainly by the closing date.

In the event of a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift by a lead criterion. For this campaign we will be prioritising the behaviour Delivering at Pace. Only candidates who meet the minimum standard in this Behaviour will have the rest of their application fully assessed.

Interview Stage

At the start of your interview, you will be asked a non-assessed warm-up question.

The Behaviours you will be assessed on during the interview are as follows:

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

Along with the behaviour questions we will also assess you on a Strength question.

After the Interviews, two Merit Lists will be created, one for roles in Milton Keynes and the other for roles in East Kilbride. Successful candidates will be appointed in merit order to the location preference they selected at Application stage.

Please note that the FCDO carries out name-blind (anonymised) recruitment to help build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The personal information on your application form and/or CV will be concealed during the sifting phase, and only the names of those who are being invited for Interviews will be made known to the Panel.

The FCDO has appointed the Government Recruitment Service to manage the process.

Please see the timetable below for indicative dates:

Closing date for completed applications

23:55 on Monday 12th of October 2026

Online Testing

Between Thursday 10th September and Monday 12th October 2026

Panel Interview

Week commencing 7th of December 2026

If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to attend a panel interview at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This will be held remotely on Microsoft Teams and details will be given to candidates who are successful at the sift stage.

There may be other opportunities in the future. Candidates who meet the required level at interview, will be kept on a Reserve List for 12 months. Should this, or another substantially similar role arise within this period, we may fill it with a Reserve candidate from this campaign. There is no guarantee that Reserves will be offered a role. If you are conditionally offered, and accept, a role your name will be removed from any other FCDO Reserve Lists.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via fcdorecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to FCDO from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems reading the Candidate Pack, such as through screen reader software, please contact our Team via fcdorecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk and we will share a Word version of this.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service and Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : FCDO Recruitment team
• Email : fcdorecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : fcdorecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

The FCDO’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should, in the first instance, contact External.Recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the FCDO, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners.

Attachments

Hints and Tips on Behaviour Examples Opens in new window (docx, 195kB)2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)AO Finance Operations Candidate Pack - Final (1) Opens in new window (docx, 276kB)AO Finance Operations Candidate Pack - Final (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 352kB)